Bold

Nation's First Certificate Program in Family Business

UC will soon boast the only U.S. business college in the U.S. to offer a certificate in family and private business, thanks to a $1 million endowed professorship by John and Gloria Goering, founders of UC's Goering Center for Family and Private Business.

"Many of our students will bear the pressure of taking over their family's business or even starting up their own after they graduate," according to Sid Barton, the Lindner College of Business professor who will lead the new program. "By adding an academic and research arm to the Goering Center, we can give students a head start in understanding how to tackle the unique challenges of owning and working with private businesses."

Read more about the new program.


Former Homecoming Queen wins 'Amazing Race'

Champions of the latest installment of TV's "Amazing Race" were UC 2002 Homecoming Queen Cindy Chiang and her fiance, Ernie Halvorsen. The reality show introduced Chiang and Halvorsen last summer and crowned them champions in December.

A Cincinnatus Scholarship recipient and Honors student who created Camp Bearcat, the overnight retreat for first-year students, Chiang received UC's Presidential Leadership Medal of Excellence upon graduation in 2004. Chiang now works in marketing in Chicago.

"Meet" Cindy and Ernie pre-Race.

  Strong

After Stroke, New Grad dedicated to Completing Degree

Of those who received their degrees at last month's Commencement, perhaps no story is more compelling than Paris Black's. The 44-year-old U.S. Air Force sergeant and Gulf War veteran was about to begin her first year of UC's distance-learning program in Clinical Laboratory Sciences in 2007 when a sudden stroke left her with partial paralysis, memory loss and a severe stutter that impeded her ability to communicate. Still, she told her program coordinator in the College of Allied Health Sciences, "I don't know how I'm going to do this, but I'm going to try." After four years of dedication, perseverance, recovery and support from UC, Paris Black has her degree.

Read more about Paris Black's remarkable achievement.

Seniors, special teams shine in Liberty Bowl Victory

An estimated 15,000 UC alumni and fans traveled to Memphis to cheer the Bearcats to a 31-24 victory over Vanderbilt in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on New Year's Eve. The Liberty Bowl, one of the oldest non-BCS bowl games, provided the opportunity for the BIG EAST co-champion Bearcats to win their 10th game of the season and ensure a post-season ranking.

Read more about the game.

  Ambitious

Gift Launches Center to study Insurance Industry

A $5 million gift from Carl H. Lindner III and his wife, Martha, will create the Carl H. Lindner III Center for Insurance and Risk Management at UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business. The program will be the first of its kind in Ohio to combine academic programs, research and executive-level industry education and outreach. Lindner is co-CEO of American Financial Group, Inc., which also participated in making the gift.

"The goal of the center is to become one of the preeminent sources for thought leadership, professional practice and talent for the insurance industry," said Lindner College of Business Dean David Szymanski.

Read more about the Lindners' gift and its expected impact.

Facebook offers vibrant Alumni Association Connections

The UC Alumni Association's Facebook page keeps growing in capability and popularity. The page features alumni news, contests, photo galleries and conversation among Bearcats worldwide. It also includes a new, secure app that makes it quick and easy for alumni to securely give to UC. Such giving is critical because each graduate who gives something annually--even in very modest amounts--is helping increase UC's alumni participation rate, which is part of how universities are ranked nationally. For a limited time, give $18.19 or more to UC through the new Facebook app and get a long-sleeved 1819 t-shirt and an I <3 UC magnetic button!

Go to the UCAA Facebook page.